In the comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop, he plays a laid-back shopping center security guard who has to defend it from a gang of crooks.

"This guy is trying to become a New Jersey state trooper and constantly falls short," James says from the film's Boston set. "He works security at the mall and loves that job, but he gets abused by a lot of people. He saves the day when the mall gets taken over on the busiest shopping day of the year."

Would James himself cut it as a state trooper? "I'm in size 42 jeans now. I don't know if they would work with that. You have to be in shape," he says. "We worked with real state troopers, and these guys — you don't want me on their level. I don't look good with a holster."

—Donna Freydkin

TelevisionFX gives biker drama 'Anarchy' some gas

FX is out to explore the world of outlaw motorcycle gangs in Sons of Anarchy, due in September. It stars Charlie Hunnam as gang member Jax Teller, who comes to resent its lawlessness, and Katey Sagal is his mother, who marries the gang's leader.

TV portrayals often "fluctuate between two stereotypes, the big bad evil biker dudes and warm, cuddly wild hogs," says writer/producer Kurt Sutter (The Shield), who is Sagal's husband. He is more interested in the juxtaposition of danger and humor: "These guys know how feared they are, and it allows them to move through their world with such swagger and confidence."

HBO also is shooting a pilot, 1%, about a biker club in small-town Arizona.

—Gary Levin

MusicLadies of Labelle return for new album

Labelle is reuniting for its first album in 33 years. Patti LaBelle, Non-a Hendryx and Sarah Dash are in the studio working with Lenny Kravitz and producers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff.

The singers say they have lost none of their flair or vocal power. The album is due in the fall with a tour to follow. "We're sisters and we'll always be sisters," LaBelle says.

The three have since enjoyed solo careers and have reunited on special occasions, most recently in 2006. Says Hendryx: "About a year and a half ago, we met to record a tribute to civil rights icon Rosa Parks (the unreleased track Dear Rosa), and we just felt in our bones it was time to do this."

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On patrol: Kevin James stars as a ridiculed security guard in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, now filming in Boston.

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